Tag Archives: writing

At a Crossroads

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I am definitely at a crossroads right now.  As my closest friend prepares to leave the state and I prepare to enter the Peace Corps, everything seems different.  I’m trying to find myself a new social life.  I’m continuing to edit The Stagner Chronicle….and it is so clean that I think this will be the last edit.  I still want to edit and self-publish all four of my works before I leave for the Peace Corps.  I think I can pull it off.

My writing of late has taken a strong non-fiction turn.  I do not know if this is temporary, but I’m not going to fight it.  Whatever comes, comes.  I need to get back to a writing project, though.  I have two non-fiction ideas that I’ve started and one fiction idea.  They all seem incredible.  I think I just need to write out the basic outlines and see which ones are doable.  I’ll let you know when I figure that out.

With Love,
Richard

The Bechdel Test for Novels

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The Bechdel Test was created for movies.  The whole point was to point out the inequality of the sexes on the big screen.  In order for the movie to pass, it must succeed in these three simple tests.

1. It has to have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man.

It’s pretty simple.  In order for a movie to pass the test, there has to be only one part of one scene in which two women talk about something other than a man.  Unfortunately, of the 3,305 movies that The Bechdel Test Website has rated, 53% have failed.  If you did the same test for men, I can guarantee you that less than 5% would fail.  The point of the test is to point out the inequality that is seen on the big screen…and it is making a huge impact.

I want to make a vow today.  From this moment forward, I will makes sure any Novella length (or longer) writing of mine passes this simple test.  I did have this test in mind when I wrote The Stagner Chronicle–which is why it passed.  I really want to look through my first three novels and see if I fell victim to the same problem.  This type of sexual discrimination is unacceptable in my mind.  I don’t want to be a part of it.

The next time you read a book or see a movie, keep this in mind.  If you are a writer yourself, consider taking this pledge with me.

With Love,
Richard

100th Post

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Join the Kickstarter Campaign to Publish “The Stagner Chronicle”

I know it’s late, but seeing as I’ve been experimenting with everything in regards to blogging…why not.  This is my 100th post.  The past three months or so have been incredible.  This blog is forcing me to do exactly what I wanted it to do.  I write daily and am improving my craft at a far quicker rate than I thought possible.  I even was able to pull a novel out of nowhere in a matter of weeks.

The next 100 posts will be very interesting.  I am convinced that posting more often and writing about current events will become a permanent part of this blog.  Writing and spreading the word about important matters is all I really know…I couldn’t stay away if I wanted. So…here is update number three from the Manifesto.  Remember to check out the Kickstarter campaign.

Better Questions; Better Schools

Kickstarter!

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We are up and running! The Kickstarter campaign was approved and we already have our first few backers streaming in.  If you would like a copy of the book, reserve yourself a copy…and then help me get the word out.  Kickstarters are all or nothing campaigns.  So if we don’t reach the goal, no one is charged.  I do not want to see that happen.  Check it out!

Join the Kickstarter Campaign to Publish “The Stagner Chronicle”

 

Live from Connecticut

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This has been a long day.  I woke up at 4:30a so that we could be at Denver International Airport for a 8:30a flight.  We ended up having to deplane because the plane wasn’t in working order.  Luckily we only had an hour and a half delay.  I got to see the NYC skyline as we flew in.  God I love that city.  Now there is talk of doing NYC tomorrow with my family.  Only time will tell.

I wrote a memory while on the plane.  Since I told you about the announcement of my sister’s pregnancy yesterday, it felt right to tell you about the day she was born.  A side note: My niece is here in Connecticut with me…about to turn seven years old.  Time really does fly.

Day Fifteen: Birth of My Niece

 

Leaving on a Jet Plane

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I should be landing in New York in about 24 hours.  It is the start of a very long month.  I can’t wait to be in Connecticut with my family and celebrating my grandmother’s 80th birthday.  I’m so lucky to have the ability to go see my family at least once a year even though they live so far away.  It looks like this time almost the entire extended family will be there–from Florida, Colorado, and D.C.  I can’t wait.

I am going to try to continue giving you guy at least one update a day while I am away.  I feel like I am straddling a thin line when it comes to internet addiction, so I am going to be careful.  If I disappear for a day or two, it is for my own sanity.  I know most writers go insane eventually…but I would prefer for that not to happen until I am at least 30.  Until next time, here is a new Memory for the 50-Day Memory Challenge.

Day Fourteen: My First Girlfriend

 

Strangest Week Ever

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This past week has been different on such a level that I have a hard time understanding how I got here.  The shooting in Aurora underlined a lot…but there was so much more.  The coming realization that my closest friend is leaving the state in a month.  Worries about my mother, my grandmother, and my dog.  Trying to write something entirely new.  I think I may have strained my brain.

Today I revamped the website.  It should not be much easy to get around and find what you are looking for.  I also updated my About Me section so that you can contact me or find me elsewhere on the internet.  Let me know what you think.  I will likely have more free time in the evening.  Expect a late update of a memory, political, or flash fiction piece (I haven’t quite decided yet).

With Love,
Richard

 

Back to Writing

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I’ve been at a bit of a standstill the last two or three weeks.  I’ve been writing memories, yes, but I do not have an overall project.  I hate not having a project to work on.  Although I love writing memories, poems, and flash fiction, they often feel like filler.  I like have a big project going at all times–whether it is the editing or writing of a large piece or novel.  Now that “The Stagner Chronicle” is in the late editing stages, I need something new.

I found that something yesterday.  I started writing as a reaction to events that occurred yesterday.  A few hours passed and I realized I couldn’t stop writing.  My word count is already at 4,000 and I am showing no signs of slowing down.  Due to the nature of what I am writing about, I cannot share the subject matter.  To be perfectly honest, it may not even be okay to share the final product.  It doesn’t matter.  I still need to write it.

With Love,
Richard

 

Hold Your Breath

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It’s be an interesting few days.  I cannot talk about most of what is going on.  I can tell you, however, that the next few weeks promise to hold almost as much intrigue.  I have less than a week until I start of month of exploring this country.  Connecticut.  Iowa.  Washington.  All in five weeks.  I cannot wait.  I will do my best to continue updating as this Summer carries on.

Two updates today.  First and foremost, I have a new memory for the memory challenge.  I realized I had far too few memories about family.  This one should make up a little ground on that level.  I have also started adding videos of myself reading my stories and poems.  This started off as a Kickstarter supplement, but I love to idea too much.  Let me know what you think.

My Sister’s Wedding